Eight reasons to be hopeful about the future of our food system – Biomimicry Institute

This year the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge 2015 challenged people world-wide to work together to rethink our food system using design inspired by nature.

Mid year the ideas started pouring in from every corner of the world. Thousands of designers, architects, biologists, engineers, students, nature-lovers, and big thinkers had answered the call to completely rethink our food system using design inspiration from nature.

The Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, hosted by the Biomimicry Institute and the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, provided a platform for these global innovators to practice biomimicry in action, by applying it to one of the most urgent issues of our time – our broken food chain.

It makes perfect sense – how are we going to create a healthier, more equitable, truly regenerative food system without learning from the natural ecosystems and organisms that are an inextricable part of it?

Eight finalists from around the world were selected from the global challenge, representing designs across various aspects of our food system. Designs include: The Living Filtration System – a biomimetic drainage system that keeps nutrients in the soil; and Mangrove Still – a desalination still that costs five times less than traditional solar stills. Further information on the designs can be found here.

Whatever the outcome of these eight designs, take a moment to think about the thousands of people globally who also took this challenge to assist with rethinking our food system.

They are now incrementally changing the way we operate our food system. Small changes worldwide are powerful!